Christmas is one of the happiest times of the year and there are many different ways to celebrate it. Some people will go on vacation while others will watch movies and drink hot cocoa. Since there are so many Christmas traditions, I have decided to rank some popular activities from worst to best.

12. Singing Songs

This one is pretty self explanatory. I personally do not enjoy singing Christmas songs, especially as a group. I think that this tradition is a hit or miss for everyone: people either love it or despise it. If I have to sing, I will, but it does not mean I want to.

11. Christmas Photoshoots

Lots of parents tend to force their kids to take millions upon millions of photos for every occasion there is. It sucks the most on Christmas when you are just trying to get to the fun parts of the holiday. It can be silly, though, which is why it is not at the bottom of the list.

10. Making Ornaments

There is nothing wrong with making ornaments, it is just not the most exciting activity for me personally. Especially when you already have tons of ornaments hanging on your tree, the chances of making another one and it being recognized are pretty low. It is a fun thing to create when you are bored and feeling crafty. 

9. Taking a Vacation

Do not get me wrong: taking a vacation can be super enjoyable… just not during Christmas time. Christmas is a very popular holiday and many people will celebrate by going on a vacation. Because of this, your ideal vacation spot will most likely be very crowded (and expensive) during the holidays. On top of that, if your favorite way to celebrate Christmas is by being with family and feeling the holiday spirit, then going on a vacation will likely not be your best option.   

8. Ice Skating

Ice skating is best in a city where it snows or where ice skating is a common interest. Santa Barbara does not check either of these boxes. Luckily, though, we still have an indoor ice skating rink where you can go with friends or family and learn how to skate. Ice skating, to me, seems pretty boring. I do not like the idea of falling down a bunch of times and going around in circles over and over again.

7. Decorating the House

This has always been, and will always be, a tiresome struggle. It is simple until you have to get onto your roof and hang up lights around your house. In the end, though, people will at least glance at your jolly home before forgetting about it forever.

6. Christmas Light Sightseeing

I always loved driving around with my family and looking at all of the creative decorations on houses. It can be different at every home and is a popular annual Christmas tradition. There is nothing negative to say about this except that decorations at houses might get repetitive and you might get bored. 

5. Christmas Cookies

There is nothing better to show holiday cheer than baking some delicious Christmas themed cookies! The only reason this popular tradition is ranked number 5 is that, eventually, all of your hard work will get eaten. It can happen rather quickly depending on how many family members you have and how much they tend to eat.   

4. Movie Marathon

Christmas movies never get old, but if you are like me, you might get bored after watching three or even two movies. I cannot sit on the couch for that long, so I am not the best at movie marathons of any kind. However, everyone is different. You might be able to tolerate hours upon hours of movie watching without any breaks. Not me, though.

3. Decorating the Tree

Decorating the Christmas tree is a personal and exciting experience. You can wrap lights around it and put candy canes and personal ornaments on the branches. My family and I would always put the Christmas Music Choice channel on our television and dance while decorating our tree. It does not take too long to decorate, though, which is why it is ranked number 3 on the list.     

2. Gingerbread House

I absolutely love making a gingerbread house. It is one of my favorite parts of Christmas and is always a great way to laugh and spend time with your family. My family and I tend to purchase the store bought ones and build it and decorate it however we want. The only reason it is not number one on this list is because my family can get mad at me when I attempt to sneak the decorative candies into my mouth. 

1. Opening Presents

I do not know anyone who dislikes opening gifts on Christmas. After weeks of curiosity and contemplating what is in your presents under the tree, opening the gifts brings joy (almost) everytime. It is not only fun to receive, but it is fun to give. It is a great way to bond with your family and show appreciation by giving and receiving presents on Christmas Day. 

Everyone has their own opinions about Christmas and the best traditions that it has. Try making your own list for your ranking on Christmas activities. As we climb closer to the jolly day, hopefully you learned a new tradition from this article and plan to give it a try!